LAS VEGAS \u2013 Ramiz Brahimaj met with MMA Junkie and other media members Saturday after his win over Austin Vanderford at UFC 320.<\/p>\n
Brahimaj (13-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) pulled off a sizable upset on the prelims at T-Mobile Arena when he forced Vanderford (13-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) to tap to a rear-naked choke in the second round. Vanderford was a 3-1 favorite in the fight.<\/p>\n
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Brahimaj, known for his ground skills, showed them in the win \u2013 but brought out his newly honed striking game, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I was going to knock him out, to be honest,\u201d Brahimaj said. \u201c\u2026 I went up top with the head kick. I’m getting closer with the right hand. \u2026 I just want to keep showing diversity every time I fight. I threw a couple calf kicks.<\/p>\n
“I remember people used to say, ‘Oh, this dude \u2013 he’s just a grappler.’ All right. We’ll see about that sh*t. I ain’t no grappler. I’m a mixed martial artist, and I’m a very dangerous one, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Afterward, Brahimaj’s emotions were sky high. He embraced a bloodied Vanderford and told him in the cage he had nightmares about fighting him in the buildup.<\/p>\n
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“That dude was giving me nightmares. This whole camp, I was missing sleep,” Brahimaj said. “This dude kept me on my toes. \u2026 The only thing that kept replaying in my head is a saying my dad told me since I was a kid: ‘You better be ready to blow in the ram’s ass and straighten its horns out.’ I’ve got the cardio to do that now.”<\/p>\n